This is a sticky post, so that my progress through the readathon will be easily found. After the readathon is over, I will “unsticky” it.

Bout of Books couldn’t come at a better time, because I’ve been in such a reading slump for at least the past month. I’ve been reading, but very slowly, and not nearly enough. So I’m really hoping that this readathon will push me right out of this slump.

Before I talk about my goals, here’s the details about this totally awesome event:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 8.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

My Goals

As I mentioned above, I’ve been in a terrible reading slump, so I need to be practical about my goals. Also, I’ve got a couple things going on this week, too. For one, I might be getting together with my aunt after work on Monday, and then The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones will be released on Wednesday, and you know I will be there.

So, my goal is to finish the book I’m currently reading, and to read 3 more books, which isn’t a ton, considering that on regular reading weeks, I usually read 3 books. But since I’ve been struggling so much, and since I’ve got a fair amount of things going on this week, I’m going to stick to 3 books, and if I read more, then that’s perfect!

Time Devoted to Reading

So, how am I going to accomplish my goals? Here’s my plan:

Reading during my lunch break. I usually never read during my lunch break, because it’s so hard to put my book down to head back to work. But during the read-a-thon, I plan on reading 30 minutes (roughly) during my lunch break.

Read 1.5-2 hours every day after work.

I don’t watch a ton of TV that is new (current TV shows, etc), but I do watch So You Think You Can Dance and Breaking Pointe, and I don’t plan on missing those shows. But, I plan on reading on all commercials. And I’ll try to watch less Netflix and Youtube, too 🙂

Listen to an audiobook while I’m getting ready in the morning. I take my sweet time getting ready every morning (I love spending time on my makeup everyday). So listening to an audiobook while I’m getting ready is perfect.

Listen to an audiobook in the car. I have a very short drive to work, but, hey, every minute counts.

What Will I Be Reading?

Okay, well, I’m not so good listing exactly what books I will read. So I put together a list of books to pick from this week.

White Cat by Holly BlackEmma by Jane AustenLife After Theft by Aprilynne PikeVampire Academy by Richelle MeadNavigating Early by Clare VanderpoolSomething Strange and Deadly by Susan DennardThe Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae CarsonThe Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady CrossDesires of the Dead by Kimberly DertingClose to Famous by Joan BauerAudrey, Wait! by Robin BenwayHappy Ever After by Nora RobertsSomething Like Normal by Trish DollerEasy by Tammara WebberThe Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
(I am halfway through the audiobook, so hopefully I will finish it this week)Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman

From Netgalley & Edelweiss:Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I actually already started this one, so I’m sure to finish it.The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

*I think this is a pretty good selection, but if some book comes across my desk, and I have to read it immediately, I’m allowing myself to read that one too*

Progress

MondayBooks Read: 1Notes: I’m off to a great start for Bout of Books. I finished Fangirl, and wow, what a great book. I’ve only listened to a little bit of The Scorpio Races, but I wasn’t in the car much today. I’m not sure what book I will start tomorrow. I’m thinking Audrey, Wait!, but who knows how I’ll be feeling tomorrow.

TuesdayBooks Read: 0Total Books Read: 1Notes: Tuesday was a terrible reading day for me. I didn’t even crack open a book. The only reading I did was while I was driving to and from work listening to The Scorpio Races. But, on the plus side, I’m not done 60% of the book. So, woot? Wednesday isn’t going to be a good reading day either because CITY OF BONES! But hopefulyl Thursday and Friday and the weekend I can focus more on my reading goals.

WednesdayBooks Read: 0Total Books Read: 1Notes: Yes, that’s me in the corner, hanging my head in shame. Again, I didn’t crack a book open today. I did listen to The Scorpio Races, and I read about 5% more. But I didn’t even listen to the audiobook as much as I should have, because I decided to listen to music in the car.On the plus side, I did go see City of Bones, which I thought was pretty good. It wasn’t perfect, but I thought that actors did a good job. Thursday, I am going to focus on get all the things read 🙂

ThursdayBooks Read: 0Total Books Read: 1Notes: You guys, I totally failed Thursday when it came to reading. I finally had some time after work, but nothing was appealing to me. This could be because I have so much on my mind right now from work. But Friday is my last day before my ten-day staycation, so hopefully I will be able to relax a little more. But I am still plugging away at my audiobook, The Scorpio Races. I’m more 80% done now, and man I love it. This weekend I am seriously focusing, and getting some books read, though! Damnit!

FridayBooks Read: 0Total Books Read: 1Notes: Another poor reading day for me. But I’m on the ninth disc of The Scorpio Races, so I should finish it soon. I have very few plans this weekend, so I am going to read like crazy 🙂

SaturdayBooks Read: 1Total Books Read: 2Notes: Woohooooo! I finished a book. It felt so good to be able to focus on something. And not only did I finish a book, Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman, but I started another one, although I’m only 46 pages in. I also listened to some of The Scorpio Races, but not much I’m afraid. I think I should be able to finish one more book before the end of Bout of Books. Which means I would have nearly met my goals. So yay! Take that reading slump.

SundayBooks Read: 1Total Books Read: 3Notes: I read Close to Famous on Sunday, and it’s a super cute middle-grade novel.

Final Thoughts on Bout of Books: So this was definitely a much less successful Bout of Books from 7.0. I’m just having a terrible time getting out of this reading slump. However, I did read three books, so that’s really good. And I’m nearly done with my audiobook.

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About Quinn

I'm a twenty-something children's librarian at a public library in Central New York. I've long left my teen years behind me, but I love to read YA and children's books.
I have two adorable dogs. Ginger is a mix between a poodle and havanese, and Daphne is Bichon Frise.
Other things I love:
Favorite Movie: Singing in the Rain
Favorite Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Favorite TV Show: Monk

Good luck with the reading! And with getting out of your slump! Even though you didn’t ask I’ll give my 2 cents and suggest you read Audrey, Wait! or Easy, IMO those are both good enough to get anyone out of a reading slump 🙂

I did absolutely ZERO reading yesterday as well. Tuesday must just not have been a good day! I actually got Fangirl in the mail today from the publisher! It was a total surprise and made me smile like a loon because I am really excited about it. I read the first chapter but that was all. I’m going to try to read a bit more of my Random Reads book tonight, but am not sure how much I’ll get done. I’m just so tired! Who knew that wrangling 21 6 year olds was so exhausting?

Hallo, Hallo Quinn! I am sorry it took me such a long time to get back to your blog!! I had fully intended to drop by each of the blogs that I had discovered when we all began this journey, but between my personal start/stops with the Bout [I post new journal entries each day, which are archived on my Goals & Motivations page! You should skip over to “Murder Most Cosy”, as I sort of wrote about my thoughts thus far,…] as much as being plagued by thunderstorms that make going online for long spurts of time a bit impossible! Oy!!

I think even if we all come close or not even close to reaching our end goals, the fact that they are all reading at the same time, during the same week, attempting to achieve our goals, says something for the community of book bloggers banning together, and attempting to achieve something quite clever! 🙂 🙂

In other words, don’t be so hard on yourself! Your doing brilliantly!!